Month: September 2024

There are likely to be some subtle changes to the most expensive Ultra model next time around.

New phones mean new phone cases as well, and as we count down towards January and the expected launch of the Samsung Galaxy S25 range we’ve got a leaked look at a case that could potentially be wrapping around the Ultra model.

It comes from well-known tipster Ice Universe, and it corroborates some of the other leaks we’ve seen up to this point – including the unofficial renders showing off sides and corners that are much more rounded than they are on the current model.

The rear camera array layout is also revealed by the molding of this transparent case, a layout we’ve previously seen in earlier camera leaks, and which looks pretty similar to the camera array on the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra,.

Even if the camera layout is the same, that doesn’t mean the cameras themselves won’t be improved: a 200MP primary camera, 50MP super-telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom, a secondary 50MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, and a 50MP ultrawide camera are apparently on the way next year.

Familiar looks

Elsewhere on this case, everything is where you would expect it to be. We’ve got the volume buttons, the power button, the gap for the USB-C port down at the bottom, and the grille for the speaker.

In other words, don’t expect the Galaxy S25 Ultra to look a whole lot different to the Galaxy S24 Ultra – although alongside the rounded corners, we are anticipating an asymmetrical frame front to back, for a more comfortable hold in the hand.

Other upgrades may well come on the inside: a couple of days ago we heard a repeat of the rumor that the Galaxy S25 Ultra would be getting 16GB of RAM as standard, up from the 12GB of RAM in the current Ultra model.

All will be revealed in January 2025, if Samsung sticks to the same schedule as it did this year. We’re once again expecting three models to show up – a standard S25 model, as well as Plus and Ultra versions – likely with a host of AI features on board (which might not be free forever).

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Just two episodes in, The Penguin fans are convinced that a key character won’t make it to the end of the hit HBO show.

We’re just two episodes into The Penguin, but the hit series’ audience is already really worried about the potential fate of its most endearing character.

The Batman spin-off has already proven that it doesn’t need the Dark Knight to be HBO’s latest TV hit, with viewers praising its thrilling and tense ‘Scarface meets The Sopranos‘ storyline, cinematography, and its two leads – Colin Farrell and Cristin Milioti, who have particularly wowed fans as Oz Cobb and Sofia Falcone respectively.

But it’s one of The Penguin’s key supporting characters who’s dominating online discussions after episode 2 – titled ‘Inside Man’ – and not for good reasons. Indeed, viewers are concerned about Victor Aguilar (played by Rhenzy Felix), Oz’s lackey-in-chief, who’s felt the wrath of his new boss multiple times throughout the HBO show’s early entries.

With six more suspense-filled episodes of the popular Max still to go, it’s highly unlikely that anything will happen to Victor just yet; after all, there are plenty of other supporting characters who are more likely to bite the bullet before Oz’s right-hand man. But, considering that the show’s protagonist was ready to “pop a cap” into Victor’s skull just 10 minutes into The Penguin‘s first chapter, plus the fact that Victor is now working for one of the most unhinged and callous individuals in Gotham City, many fans are convinced that he won’t make it to the end of this Batman-adjacent series.

A quick glance at social media sites such as Reddit and X/Twitter reveals how anxious some people are about Victor. On Reddit, aLittleDoober summed up a lot of viewers’ thoughts, writing: “I am scared for poor Vic though and think Oz might end up offing him”. Their sentiments were shared by other users, including kush125289, who wrote “Vic… [is] definitely dying…”, and KindsofKindness, who opined: “I feel pity for Vic. He is gonna get himself killed. I would be shocked if he survived the whole season.”

There are some audience members, though, who believe Victor might make it out alive. Geek-Haven888 is one of them, with the Redditor saying “he’s either going to be dead by the end of the show or be like a terrifying henchman”.

Cig_sg_throwaway was more convinced that Vic will survive, writing: “His arc is to become more street-smart and ultimately proving to Oz he has what it takes to survive the politics of Gotham’s underworld”, while NitarasDaughter offered up another suggestion: “Even if he does live, he’ll most likely end up in Arkham because of everything Oz puts him through.”

As the aforementioned embedded tweets, plus post-episode 2 reactions from other X/Twitter users, such as nkajoanofarc and truckerschapeI, show, however, it seems most viewers are fretting over the prospect of Vic being killed. I suspect they’ll be delighted to be proven wrong, though, if one of the best Max shows‘ most lovable characters lives to fight another day.

The Penguin episodes 1 and 2 are out now on Max and HBO (US), Sky and Now TV (UK), and Binge (Australia).

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Apple could be about to bring Apple Intelligence to your home with a rumored smart display product that has AI at its core.

Apple’s long-rumored smart-display-powered HomePod devices could have Apple Intelligence features at their core to help control your smart home.

Mark Gurman, Bloomberg’s Apple expert wrote in his Power On newsletter Sunday, ‘Apple is taking another crack at the smart home market.’ This time, we’re expecting two smart display products akin to a HomePod with a screen, capable of running everything Apple Intelligence has to offer.

The new devices have been in the pipeline for a while now with previous reports hinting at ‘a tabletop device code-named J595 that combines a robotic limb with a large, iPad-like display.’ But Gurman says Apple is also working on a ‘low-end smart display’ codenamed J490 aimed at using FaceTime and Apple Home control.

The interesting thing about this report is not the products themselves, as we have been hearing about Apple’s smart displays for a while now, but more so that ‘Apple Intelligence tools will be at the heart of both products, helping the company bring AI into the home.’ Gurman expects the J490 to launch as early as next year as a ‘lower-end companion to the robotic device, which may cost $1,000 or more.’

homeOS

Apple Intelligence for the smart home (Image credit: Apple)

With a new product line comes a new operating system, and Gurman thinks Apple will call it homeOS. He claims tvOS from the Apple TV will be at the basis for homeOS, but expects both OS to ‘ultimately get combined and run on every Apple home device.’

Interestingly these smart display products are collaborations between Apple’s artificial intelligence and home device hardware engineering teams, making it clear that Apple Intelligence is at the heart of these products. Gurman adds, ‘The low-end smart display is designed to run apps like Calendar, Notes and Home, and will include an interface optimized for controlling home appliances and quickly seeing information.’

These rumored Apple-Intelligence powered smart display products could usher in a very exciting future for Apple’s idea of a home and give the company another crack at taking a large slice of the smart home market pie.

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